Local injection of platelet-rich plasma is effective for non-healing hand wounds

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of local platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in treating non-healing hand wounds.

Methods: Data of 80 patients with non-healing hand wounds were retrospectively selected for this study. Among them, 48 patients in the research group received local PRP injections, while 32 patients in the control group were treated with conventional dressing changes. The outcomes assessed included treatment efficacy, safety, frequency of dressing change, wound healing time, duration of hospitalization, treatment costs, wound healing rate, wound infection rate, Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) scores, Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT) scores, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, serum wound growth factors, and patient satisfaction with wound appearance.

Results: The research group demonstrated significantly superior outcomes compared to the control group, including higher overall treatment efficacy and wound healing rates. Furthermore, the research group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of adverse events, reduced frequency of dressing changes, shorter wound healing time, reduced hospitalization duration, lower treatment costs, and a lower infection rate. Post-treatment assessments revealed significantly lower VSS, BWAT, and VAS scores in the research group. Additionally, the upregulation of serum wound growth factors was more pronounced in the research group following treatment.

Conclusions: Local PRP injection demonstrates clear efficacy in the management of non-healing hand wounds.

Keywords: Platelet-rich plasma; clinical efficacy; local injection; non-healing hand wounds.

Figure 1

Recovery status of the two patient groups. A. Pre- and post-interventional VSS scores in two groups. B. Pre- and post-interventional BWAT scores in two groups. C. Pre- and post-interventional VAS scores in two groups. Note: ^aP < 0.05 vs. before intervention; ^bP < 0.05 vs. Control; VSS, Vancouver Scar Scale; BWAT, Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.

Figure 2

Wound-associated growth factor levels in the two patient groups. A. Pre- and post-interventional EGF levels in two groups. B. Pre- and post-interventional IGF levels in two groups. C. Pre- and post-interventional PDGF levels in two groups. Note: ^aP < 0.05 vs. before intervention; ^bP < 0.05 vs. Control; EGF, epidermal growth factor; IGF, insulin-like growth factor; PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor.